Roland Garros Champion Nadal Recaptures #1

London, United Kingdom — Roland Garros champion Rafael Nadal has overtaken Roger Federer at the top of the South African Airways 2010 ATP Rankings after his 6-4, 6-2, 6-4 win over Robin Soderling in Paris on Sunday.

Following his seventh career Grand Slam title, Nadal also becomes the first player to qualify for the season-ending 2010 Barclays ATP World Tour Finals, to be held at The O2 in London from 21-28 November. Only the world’s Top 8 players qualify for the season-ending showpiece event in London.

“When you qualify for the World Tour Finals you have to be very happy because it proves you have had a very good season. Last year the crowd and the stadium were unbelievable. Playing in London is always a special feeling. I have amazing memories of London,” said the World No.1.

Nadal’s triumph at Roland Garros completes an incredible 22-match winning streak during the clay-court season, in which he became the first player in history to win all three clay-court ATP World Tour Masters 1000 events in the same year. The Spaniard also became just the second man in history to win five Roland Garros titles, with only Swedish tennis legend Bjorn Borg ahead on six titles.

Nadal last held the No.1 ranking on 29 June, 2009, when he was surpassed by Federer. The Spaniard now overtakes the Swiss again, with Federer just one week shy of equalling Pete Sampras’ all-time record of 286 weeks at No.1.

Nadal leads the ATP World Tour with four titles in 2010. Fans can now look forward to seeing Nadal compete three times in the UK during the season. He is due to compete at next week’s AEGON Championships at The Queen’s Club in London, before playing Wimbledon for the first time since his dramatic triumph at The Championships in 2008.

Nadal will then return to London in November for the Barclays ATP World Tour Finals where fans will have a chance to see him play three matches across the group stages as he battles for a place in the knockout semi-finals. With some sessions already sold out, fans should act fast to secure their seats. Tickets are available through BarclaysATPWorldTourFinals.com.

SOUTH AFRICAN AIRWAYS 2010 ATP RANKINGS (as of Sunday 6 June, 2010)

Name

Rank

Points

Nadal, Rafael ESP

1

8700

Federer, Roger SUI

2

8390

Djokovic, Novak SRB

3

6675

Murray, Andy GBR

4

5385

Davydenko, Nikolay RUS

5

4785

Soderling, Robin SWE

6

4755

Roddick, Andy USA

7

4510

Del Potro, Juan Martin ARG

8

4395

Verdasco, Fernando ESP

9

3645

Tsonga, Jo-Wilfried FRA

10

3185

Ferrer, David ESP

11

3010

Cilic, Marin CRO

12

2945

Berdych, Tomas CZE

13

2825

Youzhny, Mikhail RUS

14

2690

Ljubicic, Ivan CRO

15

2215

Melzer, Jurgen AUT

16

2125

Ferrero, Juan Carlos ESP

17

2095

Almagro, Nicolas ESP

18

1960

Isner, John USA

19

1925

Monfils, Gael FRA

20

1905

About the ATP

The ATP (Association of Tennis Professionals) is the governing body of the men’s professional tennis circuits - the ATP World Tour, the ATP Challenger Tour and the ATP Champions Tour. With 62 tournaments in 32 countries, the ATP World Tour showcases the finest male athletes competing in the world’s most exciting venues. From Australia and Europe to Africa; from North and South America to Asia, the stars of the ATP World Tour battle for prestigious titles at Grand Slams (non ATP members), ATP World Tour Masters 1000, ATP World Tour 500 and ATP World Tour 250 events. At the end of the season the world’s top 8 ranked singles players and top 8 doubles teams, based on their performance throughout the year, will qualify to compete in the season’s climax - the Barclays ATP World Tour Finals. Held at The O2 in London, the event determines the final South African Airways 2010 ATP Rankings. For more information, please visit ATPWorldTour.com.